The Newsletter of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, Inc.
Summer 2018
Help! By: Judith Downs, 1965
I’m just a poor old covered bridge My holes I cannot bandage My rafters squeak, my roof leaks, My walls are cracked, my floor creaks.
The people want me gone, it would seem – For they’ve built a new bridge on my stream Tell me please, I cannot see Why the people have replaced me.
I’ve been good, I’ve done my part, I know I’m old but in my heart I want to stay, please let me stay Help me, help me, please today!
[This poem previously appeared in the July 1972 issue of Covered Bridge Topics written by a junior high school student who asked for help for a covered bridge in Maine threatened by progress. Her words and sentiment can be applied to other bridges needing help today. Note: Her efforts were successful as the bridge was relocated and restored. – Ed.]
In this issue: Editor’s Comments ...... 2 2019 Bridges & Builders Calendar ...... 7 President's Message ...... 3 Covered Bridges Conservation Assoc. of NB ... 8 Final Crossings...... 3 Covered Bridge Internet Resources ...... 8 Archives Update...... 4 Trout Brook Bridge Update ...... 9 Membership ...... 4 The Valley Pike Bridge is Gone ...... 10 World Guide Updates ...... 4 Bridgeport Restoration...... 11 Meeting Summaries ...... 5 Ashokan Bridge Celebration ...... 11 Scholarship Award ...... 5 Ashtabula County Tour...... 12 Upcoming Meetings and Events ...... 6-7 Covered Bridge News ...... 13-23 Summer 2018 - 2 - NSPCB Newsletter
The Newsletter is published Editor’s Comments … quarterly. It includes current I suspect that most of us are happy to see the last vestige of winter bridge news and information pass behind as our thoughts turn to vacations and the warmer summer about upcoming events. months ahead. The deep snows, tornados, heavy rains and flooding NSPCB Contacts experienced this past winter did unfortunately result in damage to and loss of several of our covered bridges. The continueing efforts by President vandals and thoughtless drivers have also added to those damaged over Bill Caswell the course of the past year. I urge everyone to check out the bridges 535 Second NH Turnpike near to you and let us know if you think there are any problems or Hillsboro, NH 03244-4601 poential problems that need the Society’s attention – remember, you are [email protected] our eyes and ears! Corresponding Secretary The upcoming Ashtabula County, Ohio covered bridge safari this Robert Watts September should be exciting with more than twenty bridges in western 126 Merrimac St. Unit 21 Pennsylvania and Ohio on the anticipated list. We hope many of you Newburyport, MA 01950 will be able to attend. (For more details, see the separate article found 508-878-7854 in this Newsletter). If any of you have some ideas for future safaris, [email protected] drop us a line and let us know. Membership Dues and As many of us hope to be able to spend some time traveling to visit Address Changes many of our bridges this summer, tell us about your journeys and share Jennifer Caswell some photos. This is the Society’s Newsletter and you are what makes Membership Chair 535 Second NH Turnpike up the Society. Let us hear from you! Check out the Events pages in Hillsboro, NH 03244-4601 this Newsletter and join in when you can. The same applies to the various covered bridge societies found all around the world – let us Topics Back Issues, $5 each know what you are doing so that others may join in your events. Bill Caswell There is a considerable amount of time and work that goes into the 535 Second NH Turnpike preparation of both Topics and the Newsletter – We welcome your Hillsboro, NH 03244-4601 [email protected] comments and/or suggestions that we might review and perhaps implement them to make these publications more informative and more Treasurer interesting for you, our members. (Please send your comments and Gloria Smedley suggestions to the Newsletter editor at the address shown in the box at 4 Gamewell Garth left.) Nottingham, MD 21236 Enjoy the summer, everyone! Newsletter Editor Happy Bridging! Rob Mitchell P. O. Box 375 Marshfield, MA 02050-0375
Fall 2018 Newsletter Deadline … The next Newsletter is scheduled to be mailed in late August, therefore, anyone wishing to submit articles should send them to the Editor by August 5, 2018. Please note: It is requested that your information be typed or printed on plain white paper, including proper credit information (newspaper, magazine, or web site, etc.), and sent via U. S. Mail to: Rob Mitchell, NSPCB Newsletter Editor, P. O. Box 375, Marshfield, MA 02050 or emailed to [email protected]. Please remember that we always appreciate any news or comments sent in even if we can’t ultimately use it. Thanks!
NSPCB Newsletter - 3 - Summer 2018
President’s Message … New Brunswick is losing its historic covered bridges at an alarming rate and at least one more will be gone soon. Concerns about the future of these works of architecture has prompted a group of concerned residents to form the Covered Bridges Conservation Association of New Brunswick. More details are included in a separate article. Shortly before we went to press, the Saint John Telegraph-Journal ran a story about the upcoming replacement of the Vaughan Creek Bridge in St. Martins. The bridge, which draws tourists to the town, was declared unsafe and closed to vehicle traffic last fall. A temporary one-lane structure was built alongside it to carry the traffic. Years ago, the town enhanced this very scenic location by adding St. Martins, New Brunswick sidewalks and a bench at a location where the Vaughan Creek and Hardscrabble bridges along with a replica lighthouse can all be captured in your souvenir photo. This is one of our favorite locations and a large copy of this photo hangs in our living room. Little information has been offered so far with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure only stating that the bridge will be replaced. As of this writing, there has not been any indication of when the construction will occur or what type of bridge will replace it. All we know for sure is that the character of St. Martins will be permanently changed. On a more positive note, we are actively involved in some upcoming projects. We have requested to be a consulting party for the work on the iconic covered bridge in Bridgeport, California, which will likely get underway later this year. The representatives from the California State Park system and CalTrans have been responsive and provided detailed answers to the questions we have raised so far. We will be following this project closely. We have also requested to be involved in the design process for upcoming work on Geiger's Bridge in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The design process is just getting underway and little information is available so far. We will keep you posted. We learned about upcoming work on the Waterford Bridge in Erie County, Pennsylvania, too late. That bridge has been closed since May 2011. The design has already been completed and the project will go to bid in August. It looks like it will end up like too many other covered bridges, with steel I-beams carrying the traffic load and the wall trusses only supporting their own weight and the roof. Keeping ahead of these projects is challenging since we often do not learn of them until they are ready for construction. When you hear about upcoming plans to work on a covered bridge, please let us know as soon as possible. Thank you. Note that the deadline for the next issue has been pushed back a few days to August 5. Jenn and I are leaving for a trip to the mid-west on August 28th and need to have the Newsletter printed early so we can prepare the Fall mailing and get it to the post office before we leave. Have a great summer and let us know about the bridges you have visited.
Bill Caswell
Final Crossings… The NSPCB wishes to extend its sincere condolences on the passing of Jeanette Wilson on January 17, 2018. Jeanette was born in Sangerfield, NY, on May 12, 1942, the daughter of the late Frederick and Ruth Shoemaker Coote. She was a 1960 graduate of Rome Free Academy. On June 24, 1961, she married Richard R. (“Dick”) Wilson who passed away on February 21, 2007. Dick Wilson led the New York State Covered Bridge Society for many years. She is survived by: three daughters, Ruth Wilson of Rome, Sandy Gallagher of Rome and Judy Pawlikowski of Rome; a sister, brother and grandchildren. Summer 2018 - 4 - NSPCB Newsletter
Archives Update… The regular archives volunteers have been continuing progress on their projects: Bob & Betty Pauwels sorting through donated postcards and Michael Delage has finished Christine Ellsworth’s slide collection. A small collection of covered bridge slides was donated to us by the West Jersey Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. The slides were part of a collection of railroad pictures taken by the late Francis Palmer of New Jersey. A nice collection of covered bridge postcards and slides was received from Peter Allen of Virginia. Peter’s grandparents, Harold P. and Marjorie (Steenrod) Allen of Geneva, New York, assembled the collection. In February, the Society was given a wonderful model of the Prentiss Bridge (World Guide #29-10-07) in Langdon, New Hampshire. The model was built and donated by Al Patten of East Concord, New Hampshire. Model photo by Scott Wagner, bridge photo by Bill Caswell.
Membership …
Welcome New Members … Brenna Whitney, Derry, New Hampshire Linda Ogden, Contoocook, New Hampshire Lydia Murray, Sutton, Massachusetts Old Mill Village Museum, New Milford, Pennsylvania
Updates to the World Guide to Covered Bridges … This section lists updates since the previous newsletter. For a complete list of changes, please visit the website at www.coveredbridgesociety.org and click on the World Guide link. Page 35, Mason County, Kentucky, delete 17-81-02. The Valley Pike Bridge was removed on April 27, 2018 after extensive damage from floodwaters in July 2017 and again in the spring of 2018. Page 62, Ashtabula County, Ohio, update coordinates of 35-04-14, South Denmark Bridge, to N41° 43.04' W080° 41.41' Page 62, Ashtabula County, update coordinates of 35-04-62, Giddings Road Bridge, to N41° 45.90' W080° 43.95' Page 126, Perry County, Pennsylvania, delete 38-50-16, charred remains of the arsoned Dellville Bridge were removed in March 2018.
2019 World Guide to Covered Bridges … The committee working on the next edition of the World Guide is making progress. The goal is to have the new book released by the end of 2019, ten years after the previous edition. We expect to have much more information available in the next Newsletter. NSPCB Newsletter - 5 - Summer 2018
March Meeting … The March meeting included updates on the projects initiated at the January executive board meeting. Information about the 2019 calendar are in a separate article. The phone app. which was discussed in the previous Newsletter has been investigated and at this time, the cost is prohibitive. (Estimated between $10,000. and as much as $50,000.) We did have a member offer to help manage the project and are grateful for this. A motion was passed to create a Junior membership for those under 18 at $5 per year. Sue Blanchard and her committee are developing a coloring book (for children) with all pages devoted to covered bridges for our Junior members and those who visit our displays at the various events throughout the year. They are suggesting simple easy to color outlines, dot to dot, mazes, fill-ins all of which will help the young person to understand how covered bridges are built and why we need to take care of them. The meeting ended with a presentation of the covered bridges to be visited on the tour of Ashtabula County in September.
April Meeting … Unfortunately, the April meeting in Quechee, Vermont, needed to be cancelled due to snow, ice and freezing rain impacting much of northern Vermont. Devin Coleman’s presentation on Nichols Powers will be rescheduled for a future date.
May Executive Board Meeting … After enjoying lunch and some social time, the Executive Board meeting focused on ways to be more successful in our efforts to preserve our nation’s historic covered bridges. We will be following up on the thoughts and ideas offered at the meeting and will present them in future Newsletters. Copies of the Summer 2018 issue of Covered Bridge Topics were available to review. This is the first issue prepared by our new Topics editor, Scott Wagner. Dan Brock brought samples of the work he is doing to document the covered bridges listed in the World Guide to Covered Bridges and other privately-owned and pedestrian covered bridges. Rob Mitchell presented a report of his observations regarding a bridge project and the importance of following strict historic preservation guidelines. Details of this report will be made available after the Board reviews it. Bill Caswell updated the group on the status of the next edition of the World Guide to Covered Bridges.
Eric DeLony Scholarship… The scholarship committee has selected this year’s recipient of the Eric DeLony scholarship. The $1,000 award recommended by the Committee was approved by the Executive Board at their meeting on May 19th. The committee selected Brenna Whitney of Derry, New Hampshire, a student at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. Brenna is majoring in architecture with a minor in structural engineering. Brenna’s interest in architecture and engineering coupled with letters from her professors describing her desire to learn and take on new challenges impressed both the Scholarship Committee and Executive Board who felt that she is someone we would like to support and encourage. In addition to the cash award, she will also be receiving a two-year NSPCB membership.
Use Smile.Amazon.com when you Shop Online … Do you shop at Amazon? Have you heard of Amazon Smile? It is a program where Amazon contributes 0.5% of your purchases to a non-profit organization. There is no cost to you. In February, we received a donation of $20.60. That may not sound like much, but every little bit helps. Having more people participate will increase the funds we have available to contribute towards fire retardant and other worthwhile preservation projects. For more details, go to http://tinyurl.com/nspcb-amazon. If that doesn’t work, try the original link - https://smile.amazon.com/ch/04-6060691
Summer 2018 - 6 - NSPCB Newsletter
Upcoming NSPCB Meetings & Events … 2018 Meeting Schedule All meetings begin at 1:00 pm unless otherwise noted. Sunday. June 24 - Contoocook Railroad Depot, Main St., Contoocook, NH. Sunday, July 22 - Annual picnic at Beaver Meadow Village at the end of Waumbec St., Concord, New Hampshire. The cookout is at noon and the meeting at 1 pm. Sunday, August 26 – Hosted by Carmela Sciandra at 350 Revere Beach Blvd, Revere, Massachusetts. September 22 & 23 – Ashtabula County Tour with the New York State Covered Bridge Society. Details in a separate article in this Newsletter. Saturday, October 27 – Annual Meeting at the Brigham Hill Community Barn, 37 Wheeler Rd., Grafton, Massachusetts.
Other Upcoming Covered Bridge Meetings & Events … June June 9-10, 2018 – Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania Safari in Preble and Greene counties of western Ohio. Visit their website for more details - http://www.tbcbspa.com/. Sunday, June 10, 2018 – 11:00 am, New York State Covered Bridge Society meeting, Newfield Fire Department, Newfield, New York Saturday, June 16, 2018 – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Virginia Covered Bridge Festival, Woolwine, Virginia Saturday, June 23, 2018 – 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Pine Valley Covered Bridge 175th Anniversary Celebration, 229 Keeley Ave., New Britain, Pennsylvania July Sunday, July 1, 2018 – Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania Annual Picnic at the historic Poole Forge & Covered Bridge Park. Gather at 12 noon, picnic lunch and meeting shortly thereafter. Everyone bring a dish to share with 8 to 10 people. Sunday, July 15, 2018 – Noon, Ohio Historic Bridge Association Annual Picnic, Salt Creek Bridge. Everyone bring their own chairs and a dish to share. Sunday, July 28 & 29, 2018 – Indiana Covered Bridge Society summer tour of Montgomery and northern Parke counties. Visit https://www.indianacrossings.net/meeting-schedule for more details. August Saturday, August 4, 2018 – 6:30-7:30 pm, Dinner on Medora Covered Bridge, Medora, Indiana Sunday, August 5, 2018 – 2:00 pm, Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Monthly Meeting at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Manheim, PA. Program: To be determined
September Sunday, September 9, 2018 – 2:00 pm, Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Monthly meeting at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Manheim, PA. Program: To be determined September 15 & 16, 2018 – Washington & Greene Counties Covered Bridge Festival, Pennsylvania Sunday, September 16, 2018 – Ohio Historic Bridge Association Fall Bridge Tour – Details TBA Saturday, September 29, 2018 – 10:00 am, Vermont Covered Bridge Society Fall Meeting, Middlebury Congregational Church, 2 Main St., Middlebury, Vermont. Presentation on Nichols Powers by Devin Colman, Vermont State Architectural Historian. September 29 & 30, 2018 – Indiana Covered Bridge Society Fall Tour of Gibson, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana NSPCB Newsletter - 7 - Summer 2018
Other Upcoming Covered Bridge Meetings & Events(continued)
October October 12-21, 2018 – Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, Indiana. October 13 & 14, 2018 – Ashtabula County (Ohio) Covered Bridge Festival, Jefferson, Ohio. October 13 & 14, 2018 – Madison County Covered Bridge Festival, Winterset, Iowa. Sunday, October 14, 2018 – Theodore Burr CB Society of Pennsylvania Meeting, St Paul's Episcopal Church, 90 S Charlotte St, Manheim, PA. Saturday, October 27, 2018 – Blount County Covered Bridge Festival, Oneonta, Alabama.
November Sunday, November 4, 2018 – 2:00 pm, Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Monthly Meeting at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Manheim, PA. Program: To be determined Sunday, November 11, 2018 – Noon – 3:00 pm, New York Covered Bridge Society Harvest Dinner, Hamden Presbyterian Church Hall, 35806 St. Hwy 10, Hamden, NY
December Saturday, December 8, 2018 – 11:00 am to 4 pm, Theodore Burr CB Society of Pennsylvania Dinner, Dutch- Way Family Restaurant – Myerstown, PA
2019 “Bridges & Builders” Calendar … The Calendar Committee has designed a wonderful wall calendar for 2019 featuring thirteen covered bridges and the men who built them. It is expected to be available by the time you read this. The cost will be $10 at our meetings and events or $15 by mail. Each month features an 8½“ x 11” photo submitted by one of our members, an historic photo of the bridge and photo of the bridge’s builder if available. Each month includes a caption with a brief biography of the builder. A web page will be established to provide additional information about each of the builders showcased in the calendar. During the planning process, a significant anonymous donation was received to offset the production costs and to provide complimentary copies of the calendar to historical societies in the areas of the featured bridges. The bridges being included are: Cover - Lemuel Chenoweth - Barrackville Bridge, West Virginia (48-25-02) January - Joseph Johnson - Gilpins Falls Bridge, Maryland (20-07- 01) February - Ferdinand Wood - Bartram's Bridge, Pennsylvania (38- 15-17) March - Joseph J. Daniels - Jackson Bridge, Indiana (14-61-28) April - Charles Otis Hamar - Chitwood Bridge, Oregon (37-21-03) May - Jared N. Bresee - Fallasburg Bridge, Michigan (22-41-02) June - Washington W King - Euharlee Bridge, Georgia (10-08-01) July - Jacob Bower - Johnson Creek Bridge, Kentucky (17-101-01) August - Joseph Lansmon - Burfordville Bridge, Missouri (25-16-01) September - John Rosencrans Wood - Perrine's Bridge, New York (32-56-01) October - Dutton Woods - Waterloo Station Bridge, New Hampshire (29-07-04) November - Nichols Powers - Brown Bridge, Vermont (45-11-09) December - Everett S. Sherman – Ohio’s Harshman Bridge (35-68-03) and Warnke Bridge (35-68-14) Summer 2018 - 8 - NSPCB Newsletter
Covered Bridges Conservation Association of New Brunswick … The Covered Bridges Conservation Association of New Brunswick in Canada held its second meeting on March 17, 2018 at Sobeys Community Meeting room in Sussex, New Brunswick. The meeting was attended by 15 people interested in preserving the province’s remaining historical covered bridges. The previous meeting was held on September 9th, 2017 at the Salmon Covered Bridge at Sussex Four Corners. There were attendees from six of the province’s fourteen counties. At this meeting, they established the name of the organization, elected its officers and set the dues amounts. The officers are: President: Mr. Raymond Boucher (Riverview) Treasurer: Mrs. Maureen Boone (Welsford) Vice President: Mr. Patrick Toth (St. Stephen) Membership Chair: Mrs. Susan Marr (Quispamsis) Secretary: Ms. Tamara Langstroth (French Village) An executive meeting was held on April 14 to continue establishing the organization. The name has been cleared by title search. A physical address has been established and the treasurer is working on setting up a bank account. Bylaws of New Brunswick’s former covered bridge association are being reviewed and revised. A Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoveredBridgesConservationAssociationNB/ - has been created and a membership drive is planned. Annual dues are $15 per person. Individuals in Canada or the U.S. can join by sending a check to the Covered Bridges Conservation Association of New Brunswick at Box 10, 59A Hunter Lake Road, Upper Golden Grove, N.B., E2S 3B3. Initially, dues will offset the costs of incorporation and registering the association as a non-profit organization. More information will be provided as it becomes available. The group has set some goals: 1) To lobby the provincial government to effect a change in how the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure makes repairs to covered bridges. 2) To have all of New Brunswick's covered bridges declared historical sites. 3) To purchase fire retardant, firstly for those covered bridges in most need, then hopefully having all of the remaining bridges done. 4) Attract attention to protect those bridges being threatened. The next meeting date has not been set but may be in the Oromocto area.
Covered Bridge Internet Resources … There are many Internet resources available for covered bridge information. Links to the sites listed here and many more can be found on the NSPCB website at http://coveredbridgesociety.org/. Click on Links on the top banner of any NSPCB web page. Covered Bridge Resources: Covered Spans of Yesteryear, www.lostbridges.org – Information on all known covered bridges in the United States and Canada with photographs of many of them. Dale Travis maintains an extensive list of existing authentic and non-truss-supported covered bridges throughout the United States and Canada – http://www.dalejtravis.com/cblist/cblistus.htm Bridgehunter.com – Information and photos of all types of bridges The Covered Bridge Experience, https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheCoveredBridgeExperience/ - A Facebook page with covered bridge news and extensive collection photos of many existing covered bridges throughout the United States. Covered Bridge Societies: Covered Bridges Conservation Association of New Brunswick, Canada ...... https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoveredBridgesConservationAssociationNB/ Covered Bridge Society of Oregon ...... http://www.covered-bridges.org/ Indiana Covered Bridge Society ...... https://www.indianacrossings.net/ New York State Covered Bridge Society ...... http://www.nycoveredbridges.org/ Ohio Historic Bridge Association ...... http://oldohiobridges.com/new/ (Note new address) The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania ...... http://www.tbcbspa.com/ Vermont Covered Bridge Society ...... http://www.vermontbridges.com/ NSPCB Newsletter - 9 - Summer 2018
Trout Brook Bridge Project Update by Bill Caswell The project to reconstruct the former Moose Brook Bridge (WG #29-04-P1) of Gorham, New Hampshire for the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway (WW&F) Museum, a non-profit organization in Alna, Maine, will likely be complete by the time you read this. The grant which has funded most of the project was originally prepared to reconstruct the bridge as an exhibit within the town of Gorham. The challenges related to reconstruction in Gorham have been documented in Newsletters over the past few years. It is great to see the project nearly complete after all this time. It is even better to know that, eventually, the bridge will be put back onto active rail service. Shortly before Christmas, worked stopped for the winter. When Barnes and Bridge of New England resumed Moose Brook Bridge, Gorham, NH construction in April when the outriggers were added to help Joseph D. Conwill Photo support the walls. WW&F volunteers assisted with the addition November 29, 1985. of the siding. Once completed, NSPCB will transfer ownership of the structure to WW&F. The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway worked through the winter preparing the Trout Brook site. That work is still ongoing. They hope to move the bridge to its permanent location in September. Most of the funding for this project was provided by a grant from the National Park Service. NSPCB, the Gorham Historical Society and WW&F have all contributed money and volunteer hours towards the work done so far. WW&F is presently undergoing a fundraising campaign to cover its portion of the project costs. For more information, visit https://fundrazr.com/NarrowBridgeAhead. Photos of the reconstruction were provided by WW&F.
Summer 2018 - 10 - NSPCB Newsletter
The Valley Pike Bridge is Gone by Melissa Jurgensen [During the May 5/6 weekend, a note was posted on Facebook about the disappearance of the Valley Pike covered bridge (17-82-02) in Mason County, Kentucky. Melissa Jurgensen, who has visited the bridge many times over the years, spoke with the bridge’s owner and sent the following email to Lori Ulrich, a representative of the Buffalo Trace Covered Wooden Bridge Authority and NSPCB member, on May 9th. She also shared photos from her visit to the bridge on August 12, 2017. Melissa’s report is being reproduced here as an example of the challenges faced by individuals who try to do the right thing by preserving an historic covered bridge.] Today I spoke with the owner of the (now removed) Valley Pike Covered Bridge that was in Mason County, Kentucky. Here are notes from my conversation with him: He removed the bridge on Friday, April 27, 2018 because it had become a real safety issue. He put thousands of dollars of his own money into the bridge to try to save/repair it after the major flood damage it received in July of 2017. He poured a new footing on one end of the bridge to try to help support it and performed other structural work. Nothing seemed to help it. The heavy snow and ice of the winter of 2017-2018 were also hard on it structurally. In April he spent about a day on it trying to secure it again but once again, his efforts didn’t secure the bridge to his satisfaction. In the end he considered it a real safety hazard and didn’t want anyone to get hurt so he made the decision to remove the bridge. As recently as May of 2016 he reached out to historical organizations for help with it, but no one ever returned his calls. (I didn’t press him for which ones.) He has done some other work to it over the years, such as adding steel I-beams underneath the bridge around 2006 to help support it. Cars crossing the bridge had also struck and damaged it in the past. He has saved some of the major members and some of the siding from the bridge, storing them in his barn, but in his opinion, he doesn’t think they are original to 1864 because they are all very squarely cut and appear to be cut with circular saws. He said many times that he really hated to remove it, but it was just a major safety concern of his, so he did what he thought was best.
NSPCB Facebook Page … To help spread the word about our mission, the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, Inc. has a Facebook page. The page is used for sharing current bridge related news and Society meeting information. If you use Facebook, visit us at http.//www.facebook.com/nspcb. “Like” our page and share it with your friends.
NSPCB Newsletter - 11 - Summer 2018
Bridgeport Restoration by Bill Caswell In previous issues we have followed the progress of this effort to restore California’s Bridgeport Bridge (05-29-01). The covered bridge was built in 1862 as part of the Virginia Turnpike Company toll road that served the northern mines and the Nevada Comstock Lode. The bridge was stabilized while awaiting funding. Now fully funded, the project went out to bid on April 11th. The bids were to have been opened on May 17th. Results were not available at press time. According to the report available with the engineering plans for this project, the work is to follow the Department of the Interior standards for restoration. I, on behalf of the NSPCB, sent a letter to California’s State Historic Preservation Officer requesting to be a consulting party to the project under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. A prompt response from Dan Osanna of California State Parks included some additional information about the project. The project will raise the bridge 18 inches to reduce the potential for flood damage. To keep with the historic nature of the bridge, deteriorated truss and arch elements which cannot be salvaged will be replaced with solid wood timbers, not glulam or other engineered materials. Most of the iron rods of the Howe truss will be replaced. Some have failed and many others show signs of stress from being overloaded when the bridge was open to traffic. The external suspension system which was constructed to support the structure while fundraising was going on, will be removed and an existing internal steel support structure will be beefed up to provide additional support. The internal steel beams are painted a dark color and encased in wood so they do not detract from the historic scene. Finally, the bridge will get a new roof and siding. Work may begin as early as August 2018, more than seven and a half years after it was closed to the public. The selected contractor will have 12 months to finish the job. Photos by Bill & Jenn Caswell.
Ashokan Bridge Celebration by Bill Caswell A celebration of the restoration of the Ashokan Bridge (32-56-05) in Ulster County, New York, took place on March 17th with about 35 people in attendance. The bridge’s lower chords and about half of its floor joists were deteriorated beyond repair from years of being regularly submerged under raising river levels. The project not only replaced these timbers and added a new metal roof, but also raised the bridge to reduce the possibility of experiencing flood damage in the future. After visiting the bridge, attendees were treated to a traditional St. Patrick’s Day corned beef dinner. The meal was followed by music from Jay Unger & Molly Mason. Jay & Molly head the Ashokan Center and are also well known as the composers of Ashokan Farewell which was used in Ken Burns’ documentary The Civil War. Lastly, we were treated to a presentation by Tim Dansereau of Arnold Grāton Associates who showed slides of covered bridge and other projects that the company has worked on. Photos by Scott Wagner and Bill & Jenn Caswell. Summer 2018 - 12 - NSPCB Newsletter
NSPCB and NYSCBS Ashtabula County, Ohio Tour Saturday and Sunday, September 22 & 23, 2018 Planning for the 2018 covered bridge tour is well underway. This year’s trip to Ashtabula County will be a joint adventure with the New York State Covered Bridge Society and is destined to be another
memorable outing. We are Benetka Road Bridge (c1900) Root Road Bridge (1868) grateful to our friends and members at Smolen Engineering for volunteering to organize the weekend. The base of operations: Ramada Austinburg/Ashtabula, 1860 Ashtabula-Austinburg Rd, Austinburg, Ohio. The group rate is $89.99 per night which comes to $105.96 after taxes. Doyle Road Bridge (1883) Middle Road Bridge (1868) To make a reservation, call the hotel directly at 440-275-2711. Wait for the menu options to finish and a hotel clerk answers. Mention that you are with the covered bridge society to get the group rate. To be added to the mailing list for future updates, contact Bill Caswell at [email protected] or leave a message at 603-478-1484 or mail a note to 535 Second NH Tpke., Hillsboro, NH 03244. Photos by Steve Wolfhope, and Bill & Jenn Caswell. Friday, September 21 6-8 p.m. - NSPCB Meeting & Orientation, Ramada Inn, SR 45 & & I 90, Austinburg Saturday, September 22 Tour: Harpersfield (1868), Mechanicsville Road (1867), Riverdale Road (1874) Lunch: Camp Whitewood - Windsor Mills (1867), Amish lunch ($15 per person) Includes a power point presentation of Ashtabula County Covered Bridges from a local historian/author Tour: South Denmark (1868), Caine Road (1986), Graham Road (1867), Root Road (1868), Sherman (Pennsylvania) (1870) Dinner: Covered Bridge Pizza (1862), North Kingsville, Speaker: Ashtabula County Engineer Tim Martin Sunday, September 23 Tour: Creek Road (1880), Middle Road (1868), State Road (1983), Benetka Road (1900), Olin (1873) Lunch: Bean Soup at the Olin Covered Bridge Museum. $5 for lunch, $2 admission to the museum. Tour: Smolen-Gulf (2008), Riverview (2016), Giddings Road (1995), Netcher Road (1999), Doyle Road (1868), Liberty (2014) Dinner: Old Mill Winery, Speaker: John Smolen
Harpersfield Bridge NSPCB Newsletter - 13 - Summer 2018
Covered Bridge News …
Georgia :
Concord Road Bridge, Cobb County - 10-33-02 The steel “headache bars” installed at the Concord Road Bridge continue to serve their purpose of protecting the structure. They have deterred a number of vehicles from crossing the bridge since the major repair work was completed in mid- December 2017. The most recent incidents occurred when a pick-up truck hauling heavy construction equipment struck the headache bar on April 11th and a U-Haul truck was stopped by the steel structure during the April 21/22 weekend. The drivers in both incidents will be cited. There is a flashing LED light sign on the Smyrna side of the bridge triggered by over height vehicles. A similar sign for the Mableton side, where most of the recent incidents have happened, should be up before second week of May. (Atlanta Journal Constitution, April 24, 2018. Photos provided by Abram Duke, Regional Manager for Suncoast Restoration.)
Indiana :
Mill Race Park Bridge, Columbus – 14-03-08 Bartholomew County Council members voted to allocate $30,500 from the county covered bridge fund to pay for most of the work to place new wood shingles on top of the bridge in Mill Race Park in Columbus. The actual cost of the project won’t be known until the project is bid out later this year. It was originally built in 1840 by Adam Mason, near Brownsville in Union County, where it crossed the East Fork of the Whitewater River. It was moved to Mill Race Park in 1986, to replace the Clifty Covered Bridge which was damaged beyond repair. (The Columbus Republic, March 24, 2018. Photo by Bill & Jenn Caswell.)
Metamora Aqueduct, Metamora – 14-24-11 Work on the Duck Creek Aqueduct began in late January. Details of the project are not known although a number of photos of the work (including the ones shown here) have been posted on the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site Facebook page. The recent photos show workers installing the wooden deck which was covered with a membrane to keep it watertight and then Metamora Aqueduct during topped with 3/16” steel NSPCB/ICBS Tour, September 2015 sheeting.
Summer 2018 - 14 - NSPCB Newsletter
Indiana (continued):
Spencerville Bridge, DeKalb County – 14-17-01 On April 23rd, DeKalb County commissioners voted to approve the painting of the bridge by Brian Bros. Painting & Restoration LLC at a cost of $44,390. The work will include a high-pressure cleaning of the bridge and hand-scraping of the paint where necessary. Any loose boards or trim will be secured, and any cracks in the siding will be caulked. The bridge will get two coats of barn- red paint on its siding, two coats of white satin paint on the ends and two coats of satin gray to the interior bump rails. The work should take about 2½ weeks. County Highway Superintendent Ben Parker said Brian Bros. also offered a fire retardant for the interior of the bridge at a cost of $22,500. Parker said some Ohio counties now require this for wooden bridges. He said graffiti is easier to remove Photo by Greg McDuffee taken during the when the coating is applied. Commissioners opted not to take fire Indiana Covered Bridge Society Spring retardant option. They said security cameras at the bridge site are Tour April 28 2018 being discussed. (The Star, April 24, 2018.)
Shieldstown Bridge, Jackson County – 14-36-02 After a delay of a year and a half, work on the Shieldstown Bridge is moving along quickly. By the end of December the structural work was mostly complete and new siding was being added. The project is expected to be complete by the time this issue is published. Dan Collom of Square and Level Construction was hired to do the timber framing work. (Information and photo from Andy Rebman, February 25, 2018)
Bridgeton Bridge, Parke County - 14-61-04x On April 13, 2018, a jury found Jesse Payne guilty of three counts of arson for burning the Jeffries Ford Bridge in 2002, the Bridgeton Bridge in 2005 and attempting to burn the Mansfield Bridge on the same night as Bridgeton. On May 14th, the judge sentenced him to 90 years in prison (20 years for each charge plus 30 years as an habitual offender), but the Indiana Department of Corrections will evaluate his mental state. Payne was previously found not fit to stand trial, which led to the long delay. (WTHI- TV and Terre Haute Tribune-Star. Bill Caswell Photo, 2002.)
Iowa : Cedar Bridge, Madison County - 15-61-03#2 All three teens have pleaded guilty to second degree arson charges for setting the fire which destroyed the structure of the Cedar Covered Bridge north of Winterset on Saturday, April 15, 2017. Alivia Bergman (20) and Joel Davis (19) were sentenced to 5 years’ probation on April 16th. Alexander Hoff (18) was scheduled for sentencing on April 23rd, but that was delayed until May 18th. (Des Moines Register, April 16, 2018. Photo by KCCI-TV.) NSPCB Newsletter - 15 - Summer 2018
Kentucky: Grange City Bridge, Fleming County – 17-35-05 Kentucky’s 2018-2020 biennial highway construction plan included $1.2 million to restore the Grange City Bridge in 2019. The plan has been approved by the House and Senate. It was sent to Gov. Matt Bevin for his signature on April 2, 2018. (Maysville Ledger, April 3, 2018.) Dover Bridge, Mason County – 17-81-01 The previous Newsletter noted that Arnold Grāton Associates had started work to stabilize the bridge after it was damaged by floodwaters during the night of July 22-23, 2017. That work is now complete, and the bridge is awaiting funding to repair the damage.
Grange City Bridge Photo by Bill & Jenn Caswell Dover Bridge Photo by Bill Bowser, April 8, 2018
Maryland Roddy Road Bridge, Frederick County – 20-10-02 Roddy Road near the covered bridge was closed for a few days after an oversized vehicle struck and damaged the “headache bar” near the north end of the bridge on or around May 11th. The bridge was not damaged. Repairs were made by county staff. (WFMD-AM, May 13, 2018. Photo by Jim & Gloria Smedley.)
Massachusetts: Upper Sheffield Bridge, Sheffield – 21-02-01#2 At the Sheffield Town Meeting, voters approved $150,000 to put a new roof on the Upper Sheffield Bridge. (Berkshire Eagle, May 9, 2018. Photo by Jenn Caswell.)
Michigan: Whites Bridge, Ionia County – 22-34-01 Ever since the landmark bridge was destroyed in an act of arson on July 7, 2013, the nonprofit Whites Bridge Historical Society has been fundraising to construct a replica of the covered bridge. Originally constructed in 1869, the Brown truss covered bridge spanned the Flat River in Keene Township. The project was finally advertised and bids opened on April 6, 2018. Davis Construction from Lansing, Michigan, was the low bidder at $616,384.89. The bid was under the Engineers Estimate of $759,000. Construction could begin in August. (Rebuild Whites Bridge Facebook page, April 9, 2018.) Summer 2018 - 16 - NSPCB Newsletter
Missouri: Union Bridge, Monroe County – 25-69-02 The Missouri State Parks, which owns and oversees the Union Covered Bridge State Historic Site, recently awarded a $647,100 contract to Martin General Contractors of Eolia to replace and reinforce some of the bridge's main structural support beams. It also will install new cedar shingles, along with some new clapboard siding as needed. The company also will remove years of accumulated graffiti that covers much of the bridge. The project was planned to be completed in mid-May until floodwaters washed away four of the six cribs supporting the bridge during the repairs. Once the water recedes, crews will rebuild the cribs. (Email from Jim Rehard, Northern Missouri Historic District Supervisor, Missouri State Parks.)
Chuck Mason Photo, March 2018 Stoneburner Drone Service Photo
New York:
Blenheim Bridge, Schoharie County – 32-48-01#2 3G Construction of New Hampshire is assembled the bridge on dry land and has moved it into position over the creek. Economy Paving Company, Inc. of New York is the general contractor who is handling the road and abutment work. The trusses were raised in mid- November and the bridge moved onto its new abutments in April. The new bridge is twelve feet higher than the previous one lost in 2011. (The Daily Gazette, April 28, 2018. Photo by Jim & Gloria Smedley, May 21, 2018.)
North Carolina
Bunker Hill Bridge, Catawba County – 33-18-01 On April 20, 2018, the Historical Association of Catawba County advertised for bids to repair damage to slopes and an abutment of the Bunker Hill Bridge, the last remaining Haupt truss covered bridge. Bids were to be opened on May 22. Photos by Bill & Jenn Caswell.
NSPCB Newsletter - 17 - Summer 2018
Ohio:
Parker Bridge -35-88-03#2 and Swartz Bridge - 35-88-05, Wyandot County Righter Company of Columbus, Ohio, is nearing completion of work on Wyandot County’s two covered bridges, the Parker Bridge built in 1992 (right) and the Swartz Bridge built in 1880 (below). The $1.2 million project included work on the wood trusses, replacement of damaged pieces, installation of new siding, new roofs and new oak decking. The Swartz Bridge will be completed by the time you read this and the Parker Bridge will be completed in late May or early June. Update and photos provided by Mike Killilea of The Righter Company on April 16th.
Swatrz Bridge Parker Bridge (top), Swartz Bridge (bottom)
Smolen-Gulf Bridge, Ashtabula County – 35-04-64 Vandals have kicked out twenty-one pieces of the siding of the walkway of the Smolen-Gulf Bridge. Many of the boards were recovered from the ground 90 feet below. They may not be replaced until summer. (Ashtabula Star Beacon, March 28, 2018. Photo by Andy Rebman.)
Hills Bridge, Washington County – 35-84-24 At the Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting on May 10th, county engineer Roger Wright asked the commissioners to support participation in the 2018 Transportation Alternatives Program, a federal program administered through the state of Ohio. The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) provides funds for projects that advance non-motorized transportation facilities, historic transportation preservation and environmental mitigation and vegetation management activities. TAP funded activities must be accessible to the general public or targeted to a broad segment of the general public. In addition to repairing the bridge, Wright would like to add LED lighting, fire retardant and a new roof. The bridge was built in 1878 and closed to vehicle traffic in 2016 due to deterioration of the wood. (Marietta Times, May 11, 2018. Photo by Bill & Jenn Caswell.) Summer 2018 - 18 - NSPCB Newsletter
Oregon:
Hayden Bridge, Benton County – 37-02-05 On May 5th, a party was thrown for the Hayden Bridge’s 100th birthday. Although there has been a covered bridge at this location since 1918, the present span was constructed in 1945 to replace the 1918 bridge because it was badly deteriorated. The photo of the cake was posted to the Hayden Bridge Facebook page by Constance Katasse.
Irish Bend Bridge, Benton County – 37-02-09 On May 21st, Corvallis City Councilors voted to approve an agreement that will allow the city to accept a grant of $312,000 from the federal government via the Oregon Department of Transportation. The money will help pay for repairs, restoration and a fire sprinkler system for the Irish Bend Covered Bridge just west of the Oregon State University campus. (Corvallis Gazette- Times, May 22, 2018. Photo by Bill & Jenn Caswell.)
Earnest bridge, Lane County – 37-20-35 The Earnest Bridge will be closed between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, from April 23rd until June 1st while a new roof is installed. (KVAL-TV, April 17, 2018. Bill & Jenn Caswell Photo.)
Pennsylvania:
Waterford Bridge, Erie County – 38-25-04 The 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Program has allocated $1,510,000 to repair the Waterford Bridge. Bill Caswell sent a letter to Pennsylvania’s Historic Preservation Office requesting more information on the project. The project is currently in Final Design with an anticipated advertisement of August 30, 2018 and a letting (bid opening) on October 4, 2018. (Bill & Jenn Caswell Photo.) The project consists of: 1. Rehabilitation of the truss superstructure to repair/replace all deteriorated or damaged wood members. 2. Restoration of failed or missing lateral bracing and elimination of sagging, racking or bowing of trusses. 3. Upgrade the live load capacity of the bridge to 15 Ton by the addition of steel I-beam stringers to, in effect, isolate the floor system from the truss. 4. Rehabilitation of the stone masonry substructure to include removal of the existing full height concrete facing/jacking, addition of scour protection and provisions for a new concrete cap. 5. Approach roadway adjustments and improvements, including guide rail and drainage.
NSPCB Newsletter - 19 - Summer 2018
Pennsylvania (continued):
Rapp’s Dam Bridge, Chester County - 38-15-14 The Rapp’s Dam Bridge was closed for about a week for repairs after being struck by a truck on March 29. PennDOT crews will return in the coming weeks to perform additional work to further repair and restore the historic covered bridge. In 2014, a similar crash left it with significant damage when the driver of a 13-foot high tractor-trailer attempted to drive through the covered bridge that, according to signs posted on the roads leading up to the structure, can only accommodate vehicles up to 10 feet high. The bridge was closed for more than a year and underwent major repairs following that incident. The 1866 bridge carries an average of 3,600 vehicles a day. (Mercury News, April 7, 2018. Bill & Jenn Caswell Photo.)
Shenck’s Mill Bridge, Lancaster County – 38-36-30 The Shenck's Mill Bridge was closed for the third time in five months after being damaged by another oversized truck. On New Year’s Eve, an Arizona man driving an 18-wheel tractor-trailer got stuck inside the bridge. The roadway approaching the bridge is clearly posted with four ton and 10’-6” restrictions. Lancaster County has decided to install “headache bars” to protect the bridge from future incidents like this. (Photo by Bill Zell.)
Geiger’s Bridge, Lehigh County – 38-39-05 In the last issue, we reported that the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study has awarded $325,000 to Lehigh County to repair and restore Geiger’s Bridge. The bridge was built in 1860 in the North Whitehall Township section of the Trexler Nature Preserve. County officials said gaps in the bridge’s floor make it dangerous for vehicles and hikers. The county requested $400,000 for the project, which will cost $1.95 million. On May 8th, WFMZ-TV reported that PennDOT has offered an additional $74,100 towards the project. (Jenn Caswell Photo.)
Dellville Bridge, Perry County – 38-50-16 Construction crews have dismantled the charred remains of the Dellville covered bridge. The 1889 bridge was burned by an arsonist in November 2014. New lumber is on site to construct the replacement covered bridge. Perry County awarded the $886,848 bridge reconstruction contract to Lycoming Supply of Williamsport. A photo posted to a Perry County Facebook page on May 15th showed the new structure being constructed on top of the steel I-beams which supported the former bridge. (PennLive, March 1, 2018. Photo by Bob & Anita Ford.)
Summer 2018 - 20 - NSPCB Newsletter
Canada:
New Brunswick: McGuire Bridge, Charlotte County – 55-03-05 The McGuire Bridge was closed unexpectedly in the fall of 2017. At the time, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure stated that work could be done during the winter. A group called the Friends of McGuire Covered Bridge has formed to campaign for it to be repaired and reopened to traffic. As of May 15th there is still no sign of any work being done to repair the bridge. (Photo by Bill & Jenn Caswell). Hammond Bridge, Kings County – 55-06-05x A court has determined that the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure was in charge of repair work on the historic bridge at French Village when the 13-ton excavator dropped through the decking in October 2016. The 104-year-old bridge was seriously damaged, and the province later took it down. In March 2018, the Transportation Department pleaded guilty to a single charge under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and was fined $80,000 and put on probation for 30 days. "At least from the Crown's perspective, this accident could have been avoided," Crown prosecutor Christopher Titus had told the court. (CBC News, April 5, 2018. Photo by Clarence Ball before the demolition started.) Plumsweep Bridge, Kings County – 55-06-18 The New Brunswick Department of Transportation has repaired damage to the Plumsweep Bridge after a car ran into the side of it on January 12th. The 78 foot-long structure was built over the Kennebecasis River in 1910. Those cut off by the closure had a 14- kilometre detour to get to the Trans-Canada highway. The bridge was opened to traffic on April 13, 2018. (Reported by multiple members. Bill & Jenn Caswell Photo.) Starkey Bridge, Queens County – 55-09-08 Floodwaters impacting much of the Saint John River Valley and its tidal tributaries area kept the Starkey Bridge and at least three other covered bridges inaccessible during the end of April and beginning of May. The flooding also closed a section of the Trans-Canada Highway between Fredericton and Moncton causing a lengthy detour by way of Saint John. When the water receded, the bridge did not appear to be badly damaged although the roadway approached were partially washed out. In addition to the Starkey Bridge, the Darling’s Island Bridge (55-06-04, built 1914) and Bayswater Bridge (55- 06-15, built 1920) have had water inside. The approaches of the Bloomfield Bridge (55-06-01, built in 1918) were under water, but as far as we know the bridge remained dry.
NSPCB Newsletter - 21 - Summer 2018
Québec: We are grateful to Pascal Conner whose Blogue sur les ponts couverts http://pontscouverts.com/blogue/ provides most of the Québec news each quarter. Unless otherwise noted, all Québec articles were derived from that website.
Pont de la Frontière, Mansonville - 61- 11-03 In June 2014, the entrance to the bridge was barricaded to restrict any access to the interior. There is concern that the bridge is unsafe due to deterioration of one of the abutments which has caused one end to drop a little. Gérald Arbour visited the site at the end of April and took this photo. No money to make the necessary repairs has become available in the past four years.
Ferme-Rouge twin bridges, Lac-des-Îles - 61-33-02 & 61-33-03 A post on Pascal Connor’s Blogue sur les ponts couverts on May 8th announced that the twin Ferme-Rouge bridges were closed due to flooding of the rivière du Lièvre. It did not appear that water had reached the bridges but may have flooded roads leading to them.
Pont McDermott, near Cookshire – 61-18-06 Gérald Arbour visited this bridge in late April and reported that new “headache bars” have been installed to replace ones damaged by an oversized vehicle three years ago. The new structures have been set far enough back to allow photographers to get a good photo of the bridge without them being included.
Pont Brabant-Philippe, Gatineau – 61-25-c The City of Gatineau has issued a call for bids to rebuild the Brabant-Philippe Bridge. The contract is for professional engineering consulting services to plan the demolition and reconstruction work. Additionally, the chosen firm will be responsible for the development of concepts, the holding of discussion meetings and the preparation of plans and specifications for the addition of safety equipment on the three pedestrian trail covered bridges over the Rivière-Blanche; the Brabant-Philippe, Roland-Houët and Volunteer bridges. $770,000 is planned for the rebuilding of the Brabant-Philippe Bridge and $170,000 for the addition of safety equipment on all three bridges. This is the second reconstruction of the Brabant-Philippe Bridge since it was built in 2007. This covered bridge has fallen prey to vandals and burned twice, in 2011 and 2016. (Radio-Canada, April 25, 2018.)
Cowansville Bridge, MRC de Brome-Missisquoi - 61-45-02 On December 15th, Le Guide de Cowansville reported that the Cowansville Bridge was damaged after being struck by an oversized vehicle. The bridge had wooden “headache bars” to alert drivers of the low clearance. Those were completely destroyed by the passing truck. The bridge is posted for 2.70 meters (8’-10”) and a 3 ton weight limit. The driver was charged with the hit and run incident. On May 10th, Le Guide de Cowansville reported that the bridge was repaired in January, but is still closed to traffic awaiting installation of new “headache bars.” (Photo by Gérald Arbour, January 2018.) Summer 2018 - 22 - NSPCB Newsletter
Québec (continued):
Pont Painchaud, St-Félicien (St-Méthode) – 61-60-16 A May 3rd post on the Blogue sur les ponts couverts shared information and photos from Pierrick Bouchard’s visit to this bridge at the end of April. The bridge was moved to a farmer’s field in April 2008, ten years ago, with the intention of being rebuilt in St-Méthode. The town administration lost interest in the project and the bridge has been deteriorating ever since. During his visit, Mr. Bouchard spoke to the farm owner and one of the people involved in the project to rebuild the bridge. They are hopeful that recent changes in the administration will rekindle interest in the bridge project.
Pont de la Chute Neigette, Saint-Anaclet-de-Lessard, MRC de Rimouski-Neigette -61-58-03 Last quarter, we reported that the covered bridge at Saint-Anaclet-de-Lessard was moved to make way for a new modern bridge. The 70 ton structure will be placed at a nearby location to become an interpretive center with a small park. We have not heard of any update on this since Gérald Arbour’s report last November. The project is led by the Corporation du patrimoine de Saint-Anaclet (Saint- Anaclet Heritage Corporation). (Photo by Gérald Arbour.) Europe:
Vaduz Bridge, Vaduz, Liechtenstein and Sevelen, Switzerland - LI-01-03 and CH-15-08 The European country of Liechtenstein issued a new commemorative stamp in March of this year featuring the Vaduz-Sevelen Bridge, a six-span structure across the Rhine River between Sevelen, Switzerland and Vaduz, Liechtenstein. Built about 1901, the bridge utilizes an 1840 William Howe double-web patent truss and is now the sole survivor of the seven such bridges which once crossed the Rhine. William Howe (1803 – 1852) had three different truss patents with his first dating back to July of 1840. It is unknown if any actual bridges were ever constructed using this first design. In his second patent of August 1840, Howe modified his first design by substituting iron rods for the quadrupled posts and repositioning the mid-level chord lower. The truss itself resembled a lattice-like appearance with its double-web system. While no examples of this truss survive in North America they can still be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Russia. It is NSPCB Newsletter - 23 - Summer 2018
Howe’s third patent of August 1846 that most closely resembles the Howe Truss we find in the United States today. (Thanks to Bob Salvi, Jim Smedley and Terry Miller for information and photos)
Valduz-Sevelen Bridge William Howe double-web Truss
China:
Wenxing Bridge, Taishun County, Zhejiang Province One of more than 900 ancient bridges in China, some dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1138-1644), Taishun County’s Wenxing Lounge Bridge is considered to be a relatively new bridge, by American standards, originally built in 1857 along China’s south east coast. It was one of three woven-arch bridges destroyed in 2016 by Typhoon Meranti which, in the summer of 2017, was rebuilt and rededicated in what was described as an elaborate “circle” ceremony held at the bridge site amidst vast fields of black mushrooms. Nearly 85% of the wooden components salvaged from the original bridge by volunteers were used to rebuild. These bridges do not have a truss as we know it. The structure consists of woven polygonal arches (because they have multiple angles), Wenxing Bridge, Zhejiang Province, China beneath the deck. The woven-arch is an ancient design, hand- crafted with tools as ancient as the bridges themselves, using methods and skills handed down through generations by woodworking master carpenters teaching apprentices or relatives and following strict procedures. Construction most likely utilizes fir and/or bamboo members carefully cut and fitted by hand, using Lu Ban rulers, sawhorses, axes and chisels with no modern power tools, which are held in place by their interlocking mortice-n-tenon design. No metal connectors of any kind are used. With the location of the bridges selected to blend in with their surroundings, their abutments are natural land features. As a testament to the care with which the reconstruction of the Wenxing Bridge was accomplished, the character of the original bridge was duplicated. Ji Haibo, Director of the Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Taishun County said that he has loved these bridges since childhood and hopes that their efforts in the rebuilding will foster similar feelings Wenxing Bridge’s woven within future generations. Unfortunately, progress may be signaling the demise of polygonal arch the ancient woven-arch bridge as ever increasing development continues to encroach on the wood supply, transportation needs have changed and the younger generation sees no future for sustaining their livelihoods in traditional bridge building. (Thanks to various websites, David Simmons-President Ohio Historic Bridge Association and Terry Miller for information and photographs) Summer 2018 - 24 - NSPCB Newsletter
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